Handing Ciro Immobile a clear sight of goal is like dropping a warm pork pie next to a hungry Labrador. Don’t be surprised to see them gobble up the gift without a second thought.
So when a misplaced backpass sent Lazio’s prolific centre-forward through one-on-one during Thursday’s high-profile Europa League group-stage clash at the Stade Velodrome, the Marseille supporters must have known what was coming.
A classic Immobile finish, rattled into the bottom corner with ruthless abandon, not only gave Lazio the lead on French soil, it also made their late-blooming Italian international the most prolific goal-scorer in the club’s 121-year history; his 160th strike in just 233 games leaving the legendary Silvio Piola choking on his dust.
“(An) extraordinary player who has entered the history of Lazio, of European and world football,” said former Italy winger Emmanuele Giaccherini, leading the tributes to a man who has blossomed beyond all expectations at the Stadio Olimpico.
“He scored an opportunist goal, took advantage of the defender’s error and placed it at the far post.”
To think, if that Saudi Arabian takeover had taken place 18 months earlier, Immobile might have been leading the line for Newcastle United right now, rather than scribing his name with indelible ink into the Lazio history books.
Where would Newcastle be if they had signed Ciro Immobile?
Immobile admitted, during the summer of 2020, that he had been identified as one of the first marquee signings of the PIF era at St James’ Park.
“During the period in which there was talk of the possible purchase of Newcastle by the Sheikh’s fund, they called my agent,” Immobile explained, adding that both Max Allegri and Luciano Spalletti had also been earmarked for a head coach role.
“Then the Premier League did not approve that proposal.”
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Newcastle offered Immobile a £140,000-a-week contract, while a further £49 million would have been handed over to Lazio.
But, as far as Maurizio Sarri and Le Aquile are concerned, no amount of money could replace what Immobile brings to this Lazio side.
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